By Dorothy Frances Ward, GNA
Kumasi Nov. 11, GNA – Dr. Owusu Fordjour Aidoo, an environmental scientist, has called on the government to prioritise environmental restoration, water resource protection, improved sanitation, flood prevention and employment opportunities in the 2027 budget.
Dr Aidoo, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, pointed out that Ghana’s environmental challenges required sustained investment, effective enforcement and adequate technical personnel to ensure that existing policies translated into measurable improvements.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), ahead of the presentation of the 2027 National Budget, he expressed concern about the continuing degradation of water bodies, destruction of forest ecosystems, poor sanitation and recurring flooding in parts of the country.
“Ghana cannot continue to allow the destruction of its rivers and water resources while spending public funds on environmental protection.
The fight against illegal mining must go beyond security operations and the deployment of taskforces,” he stated.
Dr Aidoo urged the government to make adequate budgetary provisions for continuous water-quality monitoring, rehabilitation of polluted rivers, restoration of degraded mining lands and effective enforcement of environmental regulations.
He recommended that every mining-affected district should have a clearly defined environmental restoration plan, supported by measurable targets, implementation timelines and regular public reporting.
“The success of our environmental interventions should be measured by improvements in water quality and the recovery of degraded ecosystems, not simply by the number of enforcement operations conducted,” he stated.
On sanitation, Dr Aidoo called for sustained financing of waste collection, recycling infrastructure, proper waste disposal and enforcement of sanitation regulations across metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
The scientist said sanitation management should move beyond occasional clean-up exercises towards reliable systems capable of addressing waste generation and disposal throughout the year.
The government was also urged to support waste separation at source and create opportunities for businesses engaged in recycling and resource recovery.
“Poor sanitation should not become a national concern only when communities are overwhelmed by accumulated waste or disease outbreaks.
We need a properly financed waste management system that operates throughout the year,” the scientist said.
Turning to flooding, the scientist expressed concern about the recurring destruction of property, disruption of livelihoods and public health risks associated with heavy rainfall.
He recommended dedicated funding for drainage maintenance, protection of wetlands and natural waterways, flood-risk mapping and enforcement of land-use planning regulations.
He said district assemblies should be equipped with the technical personnel and resources required to identify flood-prone areas and implement preventive measures before the onset of heavy rains.
“Flood prevention must become a year-round responsibility rather than an emergency activity undertaken after communities have already suffered damage,” the scientist emphasised.
On forest conservation, the scientist urged the government to place greater emphasis on the survival of planted trees, rehabilitation of degraded habitats and protection of existing forest ecosystems.
He said environmental restoration programmes should be assessed through measurable ecological outcomes rather than the number of seedlings distributed or trees planted.
Dr Aidoo also called for increased investment in environmental testing laboratories, routine pollution monitoring and public access to reliable information on environmental quality.
He explained that exposure to contaminated water, polluted soils, unmanaged waste and poor air quality could have serious implications for public health.
Environmental protection programmes should therefore, be closely coordinated with public health interventions, particularly in mining-affected and heavily polluted communities.
He called on the government to use the 2027 budget to create employment opportunities for graduates trained in environmental science, environmental management, public health and related disciplines.
The government should therefore make deliberate financial provisions for recruiting and deploying qualified graduates to the Environmental Protection Authority, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, and other institutions responsible for environmental and public health programmes.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Benjamin Mensah